New Delhi: The journalist’s allegation that Salman Khan and his bodyguard Nawaz Shaikh stole his phone in 2019 was dismissed by the Bombay High Court on Thursday. The actor was accused of misconduct and violence by the journalist Ashok Pandey.
The allegation against Nawaz Shaikh has also been dismissed. Meanwhile, the summons given to Salman Khan and his bodyguard by the Andheri magistrate court in 2022 has been withdrawn.
According to the lawsuit, Salman Khan stole the journalist’s phone as he was riding his bicycle in Mumbai. The event occurred in April 2019 while the complainant was taking photographs. According to the journalist, Salman assaulted him and began an argument.
The complainant requested registration of an offence under Indian Criminal Code sections 324 (voluntary inflicting hurt), 392 (robbery), 426 (mischief), 506 (ii) (criminal intimidation), and 34 (common intention) (IPC).
The court noted inconsistencies in the journalist’s statement, which only referenced his phone being stolen without mentioning an assault. Later, when he submitted a complaint with the magistrate, he also cited assault.
Judge Dangre informed the journalist, pointing out the shift, “You realised after two months that phataka mara tha, attack kiya tha? You don’t say mujhe mara or that you were assaulted right away, but after two months, you do. See your first police complaint.”
In April 2022, Salman challenged the magistrate court summons at the High Court. The summons were subsequently stayed by the High Court awaiting the outcome of his petition. Salman Khan’s bodyguard has also filed a petition opposing the summons, which the high court has also halted.
